Last week my PT partner asked me to make a gait belt for our patient and I said, “OK, but let me just figure out how to do it first.”  Yesterday I consulted with my mentor about what materials to use and the best way to assemble it and dove right in.  My biggest hesitance was tackling the industrial sewing machine that is notoriously prone to breakage but I figured it out.  I think my saving grace were the sewing classes I took last year.

Once I got started, everything I learned came flowing back.  I pinned my materials, remembered how to turn the stitch, and even replaced the bobbin when it ran out.  This machine was awesome.  It stitched through 2 pieces of thick straps and Velcro without a single flinch.

This morning I finished it up by adding a leash-like handle and it stitched through two straps, a piece of Velcro, and two more straps!  Amazing.

So here is the finished product.  I actually ended up giving the belt a second set of stitching to smooth out the inner seam (see the bulges?) but I forgot to take a photo of it.

It’s basically a belt that goes around a 2-year-old, closes in the back with Velcro, and has a looped strap that allows his parents to provide him support without having to bend down too far.  He’s a little wobbly and this will allow him to walk with his caretaker giving him a little extra stability.  Once he gets stronger, I suppose they can also use it as a leash the next time they go to an amusement park.  Haha.

Here’s the belt (and our little dude) in action.  Yay!